SITUATION IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (REPORT #270 - AS OF 7:00 AM EDT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00472A001400050020-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 20, 2006
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: June 9, 1965
• Content Type: IM

Approved For Ra,jaase 2007/03/O6:P79T00472ASB'1400050020-7
OCI No. 1942/65
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
9 June 1965
Situation in the Dominican Republic
(Report - As of am E
While rebel leaders continue defiantly declar-
ing their determination to continue the struggle
until victory, there are more signs of tension and
deteriorating morale in the rebel camp.
Rebel leader Caamano's speech yesterday was
evidently designed to be a major policy statement.
He repeated the rebels' determination to fight to
the last man in defense of their cause. He bitterly
condemned the United States and the Organization of
American States for "momentarily forestalling the con-
stitutionalist victory" and reiterated his earlier
conditions for a peaceful settlement--restoration of
the 1963 constitution and congress, integration of
"constitutionalist" military officers into the Do-
minican armed forces, formation of a government under
democratic leadership, and the "immediate departure
of the interventionist forces."
Caamano implied that if a satisfactory political
solution is not arrived at soon, there will be up-
risings in the interior of the country. The people
of the interior will also rise up "to defend their
constitution," Caamano said. He closed his speech
by repeating--and somewhat clarifying--a. recent
ambiguous statement by Juan Bosch. "If they wish to
impose on us formulas contrary to democracy,-then, as
Bosch has said, we will find a solution." Bosch had
said that "even without an agreement, there will be
a solution this month."
Bosch himself issued a statement yesterday which
was broadcast through telephonic hookup with Puerto
State Dept. review completed
t '25X1
Approved For Release 2 72A001400050020-7
 Approved For Release 2007/03/06SELAR"79T00472A 1400050020-7
Rico. His remarks seemed intended to heal any
breaches that might be developing in the rebel
camp. For the first time he publicly attacked former
President Joaquin Balaguer. He charged that Balaguer's
suggestion that both Imbert and Caamano should be made
to leave the Dominican Republic reflected a lack of
understanding on Balaguer's part of the real nature of
the revolution, Balaguer, Bosch said, sees the revolu-
tion as merely another power struggle whereas it is
actually, according to Bosch, a genuine revolutionary
effort by the people to rid themselves of their
heritage of "humiliation, hunger, maltreatment, in-
justice, and enslavement."
A press conference yesterday by rebel spokesman
Jose Francisco Pena Gomez, a member of Bosch's Do-
minican Revolutionary Party (PRD), was decidedly on
the defensive. He went on at some length in an at-
tempt to prove that the rebel movement is not Commu-
nist influenced. Yet, he warned, if the rebel cause
is unsuccessful now, "this will play into Communist
hands and we will have a Communist revolution in the
Dominican Republic." Pena. Gomez also reflected
obvious concern over possible public support for the
effort of Dominican civic and business leaders on be-
half of an apolitical "third position" government.
He made a point of denying that "some names" mentioned
in the "third position" discussions had rebel support,
strongly refuted the rumor that his party was split,
and denied that Balaguer could win in a free election.
Approved For Release
 Approved For--lease 2007/03/ CCRMDP79T004T2*001400050020-7
Monday will be the sixth anniversary of the
abortive Cuban-backed invasion and uprising against
the Trujillo dictatorship and may well be marked by
pro-rebel demonstrations. The pro-Castro 14th of June
Political Group (APCJ), which takes its name from this
event, is unlikely to permit the day to go unnoticed.
Any public demonstrations could quickly
be converted into armed clashes with the police and
military.
Meanwhile, the Imbert government plans a rival
demonstration for next Sunday. The loyalist radio
has already begun calling for a wide turnout for a
"parade of democratic reaffirmation" which is designed
to "demonstrate to America and the world" the Dominican
public?s repudiation of Communism. The "parade" is
evidently to be held in Santo Domingo.
25X1
Approved For Release 2
01400050020-7
i Pr
 Approved For Reuse 2007/03/065 79T00472AQ?i400050020-7
The Imbert government has received backing
from a leading conservative figure who is widely re-
spected as an opponent of the Trujillo dictatorship.
Viriato F'iallo, Bosch's defeated opponent in the 1962
election, told Ambassador Bennett yesterday that he
fully supports Imbert's government and that if it is
forced out there 'o uld be a vacuum which few if any
responsible Dominicans would be willing to fill. He
insisted that the Caamano government is directly con-
trolled by the Communists and recommends that Inter-
American armed forces be removed to permit loyalist
military action against the rebel stronghold.
Approved For Release 472A001400050020-7
ZXUK"